This week I was thrilled to attend two bill signings for proposals that I had introduced this year, the Staff Sergeant Daniel D. Busch Memorial Highway Bill, which I introduced with Representative Dave Considine, and the Verona TID Bill, which I introduced with Representative Sondy Pope and Representative Dianne Hesselbein. I am thankful for the bipartisan support that we received on both of these bills, and to Governor Evers for signing them into law.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Jon Erpenbach Wisconsin State Senate, District 27
UPDATES
Staff Sergeant Daniel D. Busch Highway Memorial Bill Signed into Law
On Tuesday, November 19, Senator Erpenbach and Representative Considine joined Governor Evers for the signing of Assembly Bill 77, the Staff Sergeant Daniel D. Busch Memorial Highway Bill. In attendance was the family of SSG Daniel D. Busch, including his widow, Traci Winius, his son, Mitchell, his mother, Ginny Johnson, and his cousin Brian Wheeler, Brian’s wife, Staci, and their kids, Sidney and Walker.
Introduced by Senator Erpenbach and Representative Considine, the bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to designate 9.5 miles of State Highway 33 that lie in the 81stAssembly District and the 27thSenate District as the Staff Sergeant Daniel D. Busch Memorial Highway, and publically honors the service and heroism of a young veteran who gave his life for his country.
Verona TIF Bill gets Signed into Law
Due to an inadvertent accounting error, $56 million was added to the value of TIF Districts in the City of Verona, as reported to the Department of Revenue (DOR). The error was caught after the current DOR deadline to submit changes, and DOR was unable to correct the error in the assessment prior to the distribution of property tax bills. This error unfortunately resulted in higher property taxes for the residents of Verona.
SB 269 will allow the excess collections on the TID to be transferred to the general fund to reimburse taxpayers for the higher property tax rates imposed on them due to this error. SB 269 was unanimously approved by the Senate on October 8, 2019, and signed into law on November 21, 2019.
ACA Open Enrollment has Begun
Open enrollment for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has now begun. As of November 1st, Wisconsin residents and families can apply for a 2020 health plan, renew their current plan or pick a new plan through the ACA’s Health Insurance Marketplace. If you are uninsured or in need of affordable coverage visit healthcare.gov and learn more about their health coverage options.
Fifth Round of Producer-Led Watershed Grant Funding Awarded to 27 Farmer Groups
Wisconsin’s latest round of Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants has been awarded to 27 groups of farmers by the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Farmers will work with conservation agencies and organizations to address soil and water issues specific to their local conditions.
